Sudan: 9 die in desert near Libyan border

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — The spokesman of the Sudanese military says nine Sudanese nationals died after being trapped in a remote desert area near the border with Libya, while over 300 others were rescued in dire condition.

Speaking to the Sudanese official news agency on Wednesday, Col. Sawarmi Khalid said that a total of 319 Sudanese nationals were trapped in the area between Sudan and Libya before his forces located them. He added that they were transferred to nearby Dongola town and were provided with basic health services as many of them were in "critical" condition.

The desert area between Sudan and Libya is a major route for illegal migrants who try to escape Sudan's war-torn regions to Libya as a transit before trying to flee to Europe across the Mediterranean Sea.